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Abbott: Midland-Odessa gunman failed Texas background check

The governor also said the shooter did not go through a background check for the gun he used in the shooting.
Credit: KWES
Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at Sunday's press conference following mass shooting in Midland-Odessa.

MIDLAND, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott reaffirmed his demand that gun's should be kept "out of criminals' hands" Monday in a tweet revealing the gunman in the West Texas mass shooting had previously failed a background check in Texas.

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Governor Abbott did not detail why the shooter failed the background check.

The governor says the weapon used by the 36-year-old man in the shooting was purchased without a background check.

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Governor Abbott ended the tweet by saying the state must do more to keep guns from the hands of known criminals. The line echoed Gov. Abbott's call to action during a press conference in Midland-Odessa Sunday.

During Sunday's press conference, Gov. Abbott demanded further action and promised solutions to prevent further mass shootings like Midland-Odessa and El Paso. However, he also says he will continue to uphold the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens.

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Abbott made a similar call to keep guns from the hands of "deranged killers" following the El Paso mass shooting.

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